Plastic insert for carbon ribbon



July 17, 1962 w. D. LANDGRAF ET AL 3,044,728

PLASTIC INSERT FOR CARBON RIBBON Filed Aug. 12, 1959 IN V EN TORS,

United States Patent Ofifice 3,044,728 Patented July 17, 1962 3,044,728PLASTIC INSERT FOR CARBON RIBBON Walter I). Landgrat, 4808 96th Place,Oak Lawn, 111.,

and Richard P. Landgraf, 9948 S. Hoync Ave, Chicago, Ill.

Filed Aug. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 833,210 4 Claims. (Cl. 242-685) Thepresent invention relates generally to inserts for carbon ribbon rolls,and more particularly to totally plastic inserts capable of universaluse in carbon rolls fabricated according to different modes ofmanufacture.

Carbon ribbons are approximately 7 wide and 4" in diameter, as presentlyfabricated for use in typewriters, business machines, and the like. Thematerial used is either paper, cellulose or some similar non-absorbentbase, carbon coated on one side. In manufacture, such ribbon rolls aremade of about 12 or 18" length, which are split to form the finishedribbons. Several modes of manufacturing are employed. The wide rolls maybe wound on a 1 /2 D. paper or fiber tube of the same length as theroll, according to one method. In another method, the wide rolls arewound on a plurality of plastic inserts, smooth on their outerdiameter-s, which when placed side by side form an arbor. In the firstinstance, laminated paper inserts are placed within the paper or fibertube, snugly fitting, and these have axial apertures of The plasticfillers may also have axial apertures of this diameter.

In either case, then, a filler is employed, made of laminated paper orof plastic.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a standard oruniversal plastic insert, which may be employed internally of an axiallyextended roll of material, by placing a plurality of such inserts sideby side, and which are capable of use either for winding tape directlyon the inserts or for insertion within a paper or fiber roll on whichthe tape has been wound.

If a paper of fiber tube is employed, its inner diameter is subject tovariation due to manufacturing tolerances. In accordance with thepresent invention, the plastic inserts are provided with plural radiallyoutwardly extending thin ribs or protuberances, the widths of which areless than the widths of th inserts at their outer diameters. For largerdiameter tubes, the latter bear against the ribs. For smaller diametertubes, the ribs can be forced into the material of the tubes, whichwould be impossible were the inserts smooth on their outer diameters.

The same inserts can also be axially stacked and a wide roll of ribbonwound directly on the stack. The stacking then takes place on an arbor,and the start of the roll may be made between the ribs. wound on theinserts, or while it is being wound, it is slit to form ribbons. Ifslitting takes place after winding the fact that the ribs are axiallyshorter than the insert diameter is taken advantage of to enable theslitting blade to complete its operation cleanly and completely, yetwithout cutting into the plastic. On the other hand, a series of plasticinserts may be placed on an arbor of predetermined width, the end of awide roll of carbonized mate rial wound on another arbor is plasted tothe inserts, and as the roll is Wound on the inserts the singlethickness thereof is slit by a series of cutter blades properly spaced.Thereby, the roll is formed into ribbons, and the latter wound on theinserts, in a single operation.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide anovel plastic insert for a carbon ribbon of the type employed inbusiness machines.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a cylindricalplastic insert, having an axial aperture, and having protuberances onits outer diameter, the latter After the roll is being slightly narrowerthan the outer diameter of the insert and radially thin.

The above and still further objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention will become apparent upon consideration of thefollowing detailed description of one specific embodiment thereof,especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in elevation of a carbon ribbon mounted on a plasticinsert according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view taken on the line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a view of an elongated roll wound on stacked plastic insertsaccording to the invention, and indicating the mode of cutting oifindividual ribbons; and

FIGURE 5 is a view in section of a plastic insert according to theinvention, employed as a filler for a ribbon wound on a paper or fibermandrel.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, thereference numeral 1 denotes a roll of carbon ribbon. Internally of theroll and coaxial therewith is a plastic insert 2, according to theinvention. The plastic insert 2 includes a cylindrical hub portion 3 ofrelatively small width and a cylindrical outer flange or hub 4 ofrelatively greater width, equal to the Width of the ribbon roll. Theinner portion 3 is joined to the outer hub 4 by a thin web 5 of plasticmaterial which is integral with the inner portion over the entirecircumference of the latter, but which joins the outer flange overlimited areas internally of the latter, as by junctions 6, 7, 8 and 9.Thereby, resilience is provided for the outer hub. Ribs 10, 11, 12 and13 extend radially from the outer hub 4,

and are located intermediate the junctions 6, 7, 8 and 9, so thatpressure on the ribs radially inwardly will not crack the hub 4, thelatter having room to bend inwardly, provided by the spacers 15, 16, 17and 18 intermediate the web 5 and the inner surface of the hub 4.

At the line 22 of FIGURE 1 the carbon ribbon rests directly on theflange 4, while on the line 3-3, it rests directly on the rib 10.

In fabricating a carbon ribbon of the type illustrated in FIGURES l-3,inclusive, an elongated roll of carbon rib bon material, perhaps 12" to18" wide, may be wound on a mandrel M formed by stacking axially asufficient number of inserts 2. The individual ribbons are then formedby cutting after the roll is formed, as by means of a blade 20, on thelines 21, 22, 23, located between the ribs, as 10, 11, 12, 13. Thereby,the roll can be cut through cleanly without cutting into the material ofthe inserts 2. However, the sheet material forming the roll may also becut as it is being wound, so that it is wound on the inserts 2 in theform of individual ribbons.

Where a ribbon has previously been wound on a paper or fiber tube, as 24(FIGURE 5), the insert 2 may be pressed internally of the latter. If theinternal diameter of the latter is slightly smaller than the internaldiameter of the ribs, as 10, 1'1, 12, 13, the latter can readily biteinto the material of the tube. Thereby, a tight fit is assuredregardless of manufacturing tolerances in fabricating the paper or fibertube 22.

The ribs 10, 11, 12, 13 extend circumferentially of the inserts, beingabout long, having a height of about or less and a thickness of about orless. The

ribbons therefore essentially rest on the outer circumferences of theinserts, the ribs then providing some opposition to rotation of theribbon material with respect to the inserts.

In order to prevent rotation of the inserts 2 with respect to themandrel M, and to facilitate their accurate alignment, the latter may beprovided withan axial key 19, and the inserts 2 are provided with matingkey-ways 20.

While we have described and illustrated one specific embodiment of ourinvention, it will be clear that variations of the details ofconstruction which are specifically illustrated and described may beresorted to without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What We claim is:

1. A totally plastic insert for a carbon ribbon, including a hub, anouter flange surrounding said hub, said outer flange having a largerwidth than said hub, a thin radial web extending between said hub andsaid flange, said web being joined to said flange only at discretejuncture points thereof, and said web being spaced from said flangeintermediate said juncture points, relatively thin protuberances securedon the outer diameter of said flange at points intermediate saidjuncture points, said protuberances each extending axially well withinthe edges of said flange, said hub, web, flange and protuberances beinga unitary and integral plastic structure.

2. A totally plastic insert for a carbon ribbon, including a cylindricalhub having a predetermined inner diameter and a predetermined width, acylindrical outer flange surrounding said hub and having a greater widththan said predetermined width, a disc shaped thin web extending radiallybetween said hub and said flang and symmetrically of said hub and saidflange, said web being secured to said hub over the entire circumferenceof said hub, said Web being joined to said flange at not more than sixdimensionally small junction points, smooth protuberances located on theexternal surface of said flange, said protuberances being locatedequidistantly of the edges of said flange and positioned onlyintermediate the points of juncture of said web and flange andsymmetrically thereof, said hub, flange, web and protuberances being aunitary integral structure.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said protuberances areribs extending circumferentially about of height not more than & and ofwidth not more than 4. A wholly plastic cylindrical insert for a carbonribbon, including an outer plastic flange, said outer flange includingsmooth plastic protuberances at spaced points thereabout, said outerflange having a predetermined width and said protuberances having widthsless than said predetermined width and being located axiallysymmetrically of said flange, said insert including a hub, and a thinweb securing said outer flange to said hub at a plurality ofdimensionally small fixed juncture points, whereby said outer flange isradially resilient, said protuberances being located circumferentiallyonly intermediate said fixed juncture points, said outer flange,protuberances, hub and Web being integral.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,999,765 Laveau Apr. 30, 1935 2,476,928 Thomas July 19, 1949 2,535,188Beclcner Dec. 26, 1950 2,679,988 Morgan June 1, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS422,639 Italy June 23, 1947

